Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Working it Out

Sophie and Noah are 6 and 4, which also means they argue CONSTANTLY. They love each other to death, but they can go from best friends playing happily together to WWIII in 2.5 seconds. Lately, when one of them comes to me and tattles, I typically start asking them questions like, "Really? S/He did that? What do you think I should tell her/him? (wait for response)....Hmmm. Well, that sounds pretty good. Why don't YOU tell her/him that?" And then they do....and then they get along for two more seconds and start fighting again. That's when I usually tell them to "Work it out." I really want them to quit bugging me about their petty arguments learn to express their feelings and develop some conflict resolution skills, but this recent conversation didn't work out so well:

Sophie and Noah are taking a bath and start arguing. They go back and forth for what seems like forever and finally Noah seeks some help.

Noah: DADDY! Sophie keeps bothering me and (fill in the blank with whatever annoying thing most kids do) 


Daddy: Okay, thanks Noah.


Sophie (to Noah): (smirking) How'd that work out for you, Noah?

Noah: (silent, but definitely ready to do something that would end with him in the corner)


Don't worry, though. I'm sure they were hugging and singing Kumbaya within moments after this interaction. Gotta love it.

4 comments:

OSU 98 said...

Hilarious. Watch out for Noah...something tells me he operates under the "don't get mad, get even" theory. :)

The Monroes said...

omg I am dying....that Sophie phrase is so YOU.

Lori said...

OMG this is hilarious!!! love it love it love it

caxline said...

Please figure this out and then tell me the magic...I am constantly yelling..go to you own room - don't talk to each other - don't look at each other. i am about to buy a 18 passenger van so each kid has their own row in the car.